The Iranian media expressed outraged at the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a leading nuclear scientist. Newspapers from across the political spectrum – reformist, centrist, conservative and hardline – published front-page photos of his bullet-riddled car and funeral casket.
Conservative and hardline papers blamed Israel for Fakhrizadeh's murder and demanded immediate retribution. “If we don’t hit them, they hit us,” Vatan-e Emrooz, a conservative paper, warned on November 28. They highlighted Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s pledge of “definitive punishment” for the perpetrators. Kayhan, the most hardline paper, published an editorial calling for strikes on the port city of Haifa, if Israel were found responsible. “An Eye for an Eye: Zionists Must Prepare Themselves,” read a Kayhan headline on November 28.
Reformist and centrist papers published tributes to Fakhrizadeh’s achievements and pledged to honor his legacy. “Continuing Fakhrizadeh’s Scientific Efforts,” Ettela'at, a centrist paper, reported on November 29. They also highlighted remarks by President Rouhani that Iran would respond at an “appropriate time" rather than immediately.
More in this series:
- Part 1: Leading Iran Nuclear Scientist Killed
- Part 2: Iran on Nuclear Scientist's Assassination
- Part 3: World on Nuclear Scientist's Assassination
- Part 5: Assassinations of Iran Nuclear Scientists
- Part 6: Timeline and Fallout from a Scientist’s Assassination
Conservative and Hardline
If We Don't Hit Them, They Hit Us
Netanyahu publicized Israel’s plan to assassinate Mohsen Fakhrizadeh
by showing his photo in a television presentation in 2018
An Eye for an Eye: Zionists Must Prepare Themselves
Supreme Leader Orders Punishment
of the Perpetrators of the Assassination
Agenda: Punishment
We must not signal: Rouhani’s meaningful response to
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh’s assassination
Assassination of an Iranian Scientist
Foreign Minister: This cowardly operation – with obvious signs of Israel’s
hand in it – demonstrates the desperate warmongering of the perpetrators
Yet Another Assassination of a Scientist
The Supreme Leader’s Message Following Mohsen Fakhrizadeh’s Martyrdom:
Definitive Punishment of the Perpetrators of this Crime Must Be Pursued
Rouhani Blames Global Arrogance and Israel for Fakhrizadeh’s Assassination
Timely Response: Iran Unanimous Against the Assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh
Centrist
Nuclear Scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh Assassinated
Defense Industry Scientist Martyred in a Terrorist Operation
Widespread Reactions to Fakhrizadeh's Assassination: How Will Iran Respond?
From Responding in Appropriate Time to National Solidarity
Definitive Punishment of the Perpetrators
and Continuing Fakhrizadeh's Scientific Efforts
Assassination Against Iran's Advancement
Shamkhani: Fakhrizadeh's Achievements Will Astonish the World
Reformist
Trap of Tensions: Assassination of Yet Another Nuclear Scientist
Report on an Assassination
Iran's International Legal Pursuit
Rouhani: Iran will Respond to Israel's Warmongering
Netanyahu and Trump's Joint Madness in the Absard Assassination
Photo Credits: All photos from Iran Front Pages (CC By 4.0)
Andrew Hanna, a program specialist at the U.S. Institute of Peace, and Ashley Lane, an intern at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, assembled this report.